Grave vault



Aug. 22, 1933. Q J STRE; 1,923,956

GRAVE VAULT Filed May 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C 1. A? K1 flar/ea 04572 6216 INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Aug. 22, 1933. c. J. STREIB 1,923,956

GRAVE VAULT I Filed ma 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 U I f U H r1. -m

fiaf/es ddzf'e ATTO R N EY l atented Aug. 22, 1933 ED SATE PATENT OFFH CE 2 Claims.

The object of this, my present invention, is the provision of a burial vault that is wholly constructed of metal and which, when the top or lid is applied, is hermetically sealed and is both water and rust-proof.

A further and important object of the invention is the provision of an all metal vault in which the body and lid are preferably of comparatively thin copper but which body is reinforced'in a manner that will prevent the bending or buckling thereof regardless of strains to which it may be subjected and further wherein the body is provided with reinforcing means for the top or lid to hold the same from buckling or from inward movement regardless of the weight of the earth that is deposited thereupon.

To the attainment of the above broadly recited objects the invention consists in the improvement hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a grave vault in accordance with this invention, a portion of the lid being broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan View with the lid re moved and a portion of the body in section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on the line 3 -3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view approximately on the line l-l of Figure 1. igure 5 is a face View of a notched plate attached to the side braces.

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the T-irons supported by the transverse braces.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the frame supported by the T-irons and by the pins on the end braces for the body.

As disclosed by the drawings the body 1 of my improved vault is of box-like or rectangular formation. The sides and ends of the body are formed from a single sheet of copper which is of comparatively thin but of a suitable gage to withstand rough handling. The confronting edges of the one sheet body are brazed for effectively connecting the same, and the lower edge 7 of the body 1 is preferably inturned, as at 2. The upper edge of the body is provided with a continuous trough-like flange which is substantially V-shaped in cross section and which is indicated, in the drawings, by the numeral 3. V The inwardly and upwardly extending element of the substantially V-shaped flange is of a greater length than the depending element thereof, and the V- shaped flange is designed to receive therein a downwardly continuous flange 4 at the sides and 7 ends of the top or lid 5. The top or lid is also preferably of copper and the same is brazed in the trough or V-shaped flange of the body after the casket has been arranged in the vault.

The bottom 6 for the body is in the nature of a metal plate preferably of copper and the same rests upon the continuous flange 2 and is brazed to-the said flange and to the edges thereof that contact with the sides and ends of the body 1.

fit spaced intervals the sides and bottom of the body are reinforced by inner substantially U- shaped braces 7 which are preferably of steel and are comparatively thick. Both the side arms and the lower connecting member for the side arms are brazed respectively to the sides and to the bottom of the body and the side elements of the said U-shaped braces may have their upper ends widened ornotched but preferably the same have riveted thereon metal members 8 whose upper edges are notched, as at 9. In the notches 9 there are arranged the base flanges of the inverted T-shaped irons 10. It is to be understood that the irons are not arranged in the vault until after the casket has been placed in said vault.

Each end of the body is approximately centrally reinforced by a vertical brace 11, the said braces being in the nature of steel bars which are brazed to the said ends and to the bottom of the body. The end brace bars which project a suitable distance above the notched ends of the transverse side braces and the confronting faces of each bar 11 has welded thereto a steel or like metal pin 12 which projects a suitable distance above the top of the said brace bars 11.

The numeral 13 broadly indicates a metal frame, the same including a substantially rectangular outer portion 14 and a pair of spaced inner longitudinally extending plates 15 connected preferably by welding the same to the ends 16 of the frame 13. Also welded to the ends of the frame there are the Vertical arms of angle brackets 16, the horizontal and outwardly extending element of each bracket being provided with an aperture 17 to receive t-herethrough the pins 12. The brackets also rest on the upper ends of the brace bars 11, while the frame 13 has its longitudinal members supported on the inverted T-shaped irons 10. The frame is, of course, not arranged in the body until after the casket has been placed therein, and the top of the frame is in close proximity to and in fact bars 11 as may the inverted T-irons to the notched upper ends of the side braces.

When the lid is herm tically sealed to the body as above described the vault is rendered airproof, water-proof and being of copper is also rust-proof. The device may be cheaply constructed and the same is reinforced in such manner as to prevent any buckling or bulging or" the parts regardless of strain from any direction which is directed th reagainst. Thus earth packed again the vault will not have any effect upon the shape of the said vault and a body placed in the vault will be preserved for an indefinit period of time.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A grave vault comprising a box-shaped body formed from a single piece of copper whose confronting edges are welded, whose lower edges are flanged inwardly and whose top edges are shaped to provide a substantially V-shaped trough, a bottom plate welded on the icwer flanges, a lid comprising a plate having a continuous angle flange to be received in the trough and to be welded. therein, spaced substantially U-shaped steel brace bars welded to the inner sides and to the bottom of the vault and having their sides provided with notched upper ends, transversely and said frame being disposed in close proximity to or in contact with the inner face of the lid.

2. A grave vault comprising a box-shaped body formed from a single piece of copper Whose confronting edges are welded, whose lower edges are flanged inwardly and whose top edges are shaped to provide a substantially V-shaped trough, a bottom plate welded on the lower flanges, a lid comprising a plate having a continuous angle flange to be received in the trough and to be welded therein, substantially U -shaped transverse steel brace bars welded to the sides and to the bottom of the body, iron plates riveted to the vertical members of said brace rods and having their upper ends widened and notched, transversely arranged inverted T-shaped irons received in the notches of the opposed plates, vertically arranged steel brace plates Welded to the ends and to the bottom of the body, and having pins projecting therefrom, a metal frame comprising a substantially rectangular outer frame, inner longitudinal members welded to the ends of the outer portion, and angle brackets welded to the said ends and having their horizontal flanges projecting therefrom and provided with openings for the of the pins therethrough, the inverted T-shaped irons affording a support for the frame and the frame being disposed for contacting engagement with the lid.

CHARLES J. STREIB. 

